Interview, Fireside Chat
Will Sasso: Comedy, MADtv, AI, Friendship, Madness, and Pro Wrestling | Lex Fridman Podcast #323
- Will Sasso wears a black suit for the podcast as a gesture of reverence to the host and their new friendship, acknowledging that "clothes make the man," though he admits to hating wearing suits and prefers wearing shorts because his legs get hot.
- Sasso's career began in 1997 on Mad TV, followed by roles in The Three Stooges movie and various podcasts, including The 10 Minute Podcast and his new show, Dudezy.
- Regarding his role as "The Mountain" (Bjorn) in Game of Thrones, Sasso notes that the dragons were often tennis balls on stands, and he identifies as an expert in film lingo, such as the "banana" shot.
- Sasso is a fan of the video game Skyrim, where he spent years "grinding" to gather ingredients, a habit he shares with his friend Bobby Lee.
- Bobby Lee is described as a "gatherer" who embodies metaphor literally, often engaging in raw, unfiltered behavior, such as performing nude in front of audiences or playing farming games on his iPad to escape human interaction.
- Sasso identifies as an "african pinko socialist" from Canada but clarifies he is "allergic to money," citing that he respects the art of stand-up but feels the industry is under attack by newcomers who lack a clear purpose.
- Sasso admits to having anxiety and performance anxiety, particularly regarding situations where he feels he must perform, such as when wearing a tight suit collar.
- He discusses his personal history with depression, stating that he initially resisted medication but eventually found therapy and pharmaceuticals necessary to function, describing the initial effect as "doors and windows opening" in his brain.
- Sasso analyzes the character Del Griffith from Planes, Trains and Automobiles as an embodiment of profound loneliness, noting that John Candy deserved an Academy Award for the role, which highlights the disconnect between comedy and serious dramatic recognition.
- He reflects on the transient nature of relationships in the acting industry, where crews become like families during production but must separate once the project ends, contrasting this with the "AI" approach to maintaining long-term connections.
- Dudezy is a podcast curated entirely by a proprietary AI that analyzes the hosts' emails, search histories, and purchase records to generate weekly topics and premises, though Sasso maintains the humor comes from the human-machine collaboration.
- Sasso argues that while AI can generate art and mimic human conversation, it cannot truly replicate the "essence" of a human being or upload consciousness, describing the human brain as the most complex machine in the universe.
- He believes AI-generated art lacks the "scarcity" and human backstory that gives traditional art its value, comparing the current digital landscape to the transition from vinyl to streaming (Napster/Spotify).
- Sasso discusses the fear of AI becoming sentient or creating digital avatars that persist after death, suggesting such technology could be used for "porn and sexual kinds" of interactions, which he accepts as an "international sex symbol."
- He emphasizes that love is a beautiful, real experience that cannot be explained away by evolutionary biology or economics, disagreeing with his co-host Chad's cynical view on the subject.
- Sasso's "scariest" moments before a performance involve the pressure to be perfect, but he finds comfort in simple acts of kindness, such as a niece telling him "people love you here" or a waitress in New York calling him "sweetheart."
- When asked for advice to young people, he advises listening to one's gut and pursuing a career in something you love, noting that his immigrant parents encouraged him to "make it up" rather than follow a traditional path.
- Sasso expresses a preference for dramatic acting over stand-up comedy, stating he feels a deep emotional connection to characters and can relate to the "drug" of feeling the emotions of a scene, as seen in his role in The Inside Game.
- He cites Brett Hart and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair as the greatest wrestling performers of all time, with Hulk Hogan being his sentimental favorite who represented "Superman" to him as a child.
- Sasso's definition of the meaning of life involves getting "lots of fiber," being nice to neighbors, not taking oneself too seriously, and ultimately putting "love out there in the world."